Winnipeg Manitoba Temple
During his opening remarks at the April 2011 Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced that Canada's ninth temple would be built in Winnipeg, the capital, and largest city of Manitoba, Canada. In Manitoba, there are 4,500 Latter-day Saints organized in 12 local congregations.
There are currently eight temples in Canada to serve the 194,000 Latter-day Saints. The other temples are located in Calgary, Cardston, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Regina, Toronto and Vancouver. The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will serve members of the Winnipeg area who currently travel 400 miles (600 kilometers)—a 6½-hour drive—to the Regina Saskatchewan Temple. The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will be the first temple built in Manitoba.
The Winnipeg Manitoba Temple will stand on a beautiful tract of land at the entrance to The Neighbourhoods of Bridgwater located in the southwestern portion of the city. The design for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple draws inspiration from the churches of old Winnipeg. It features a stone exterior, large sloped roof, and slender copper steeple over the main entrance. Plans include the use of Manitoba Tyndall stone.
When the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple is built, it will include a baptistry; instruction rooms, where members learn about the purpose of life and the role of Jesus Christ; sealing rooms, where marriages take place; and a celestial room, a room that represents eternal life with God.
Temple worship is an important aspect of religious life for members of the Church. It helps them gain a big picture perspective, feel peace, receive answers to their prayers and recommit to living moral, virtuous lives. The temple is also important because it is where families are sealed together for eternity.
Early Missionary Work in Manitoba
The Church first came to Manitoba at the end of the 19th century. In 1896, the president of the Church’s Canadian Mission wrote to John Sherman, a member of the Church who had immigrated from Alberta to Manitoba, asking if he would like missionaries sent to the area. A month later, seven missionaries were called to the area. Many early converts to the Church in Manitoba immigrated to areas with greater Church membership, but gradually membership grew from 37 members in 1909 to approximately 4,000 members today.
One of the largest gatherings of members in the province was held 4 August 1998, when President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed an audience of over 1,500 members who had gathered in the Winnipeg Manitoba Stake Center to hear the Prophet's words. He said, “I have asked your stake president how far you go to the temple. Some drive 14 hours." He continued, "Sometime you will have a temple. But not now. Keep on driving. I urge every one of you, don't wait for it.” At the conclusion of his remarks, he told the people, "Every man, woman, boy and girl in this Church is important. The Lord will bless you as you serve Him in righteousness."
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication Announced
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are welcoming the announcement of the groundbreaking date for the first LDS temple in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Church leaders announced on 17 November 2016 that the event will be held on Saturday, 3 December 2016 at 12:00 pm. The temple site is located on 7.7 acres of land at 2 Center Street in Winnipeg.
The ceremony will be under the direction of Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Larry Y. Wilson, of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department. Community, government, and interfaith leaders will also be in attendance. Due to limited space, attendance at the event is by invitation, with the general public invited to view the proceedings live from local Church meetinghouses.
Ground Breaking Ceremony
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with community leaders in Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday, 3 December 2016, to break ground for the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. This will be the ninth temple constructed in Canada.
Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department presided at the ceremony. Several local Latter-day Saint and community and civic leaders also attended.
In his remarks, Elder Wilson said, “The temple helps us prepare to be better people, to choose good over evil, to be more kind, more loving, more like Jesus Christ. This is a unique design. There is not another temple in the world that looks like this.”
City councilor for South Winnipeg, St. Norbert Ward, Janice Lukes said, “The temple will definitely be an iconic building here in Winnipeg. Each faith community is a tremendous asset to the greater community.”
Terry Duguid, a member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, expressed appreciation for the Church’s community service efforts and stated, “While attending your event on behalf of Winnipeg Harvest I felt the spirit of your generosity.”
Belle Jarniewski, President of Manitoba Multi-Faith Council, said the new temple "will be a place to reflect, to share the peacefulness of the grounds and reflect on the beauty of the building itself.”
